LONDON - Europe's main stock markets closed on an upbeat note as London recorded a new 13-year high amid stimulus policies from top world central banks and a barrage of company results, dealers say.

Eyes were also on Fed chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony to Congress on Wednesday on the US economic outlook.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index finished up 0.71 per cent to end at 6803.87 points on Tuesday, soaring past the 13-year closing high point reached a day earlier.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 ended up 0.19 per cent to 8472.20 points and in Paris the CAC 40 index climbed 0.33 per cent to close at 4,036.18. It had risen above 4,000 points last Friday for the first time since July 2011.

The euro rose to $US1.2908 from $US1.2884 late in New York on Monday.

HONG KONG - Asian shares were mixed after a dip on Wall Street ahead of testimony from the US Federal Reserve chief and a policy meeting of the Japanese central bank.

The US dollar turned higher against the yen in Asia as investors waited for Fed chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony on the US economic outlook to Congress on Wednesday.

Tokyo stocks rose 0.13 per cent or 20.21 points to 15,381.02 and Seoul slipped 0.07 per cent or 1.34 points to 1,981.09.

In Shanghai, shares climbed 0.22 per cent or 5.12 points to 2,305.11, while Hong Kong fell 0.54 per cent or 126.66 points to 23,366.37.

Japanese stocks recouped early losses to close at their best finish since December 2007.